Hey Guys

I am new here and new to these trucks...I have my late uncle's 1959 F100 Styleside. It has been sitting since he passed away in the late 70's. I got the truck from my aunt with intentions of getting it up and going again. Here are my questions to start. Please post your thoughts so I can get rolling in the right direction.

1. Running gear is bad so can I swap out the body to a newer frame? How new can I go without much hassle?

2. What considerations need to be made if I want to find parts for the newer frame?

3. I wanted to lower slightly and put larger rims on it down the road what can I do?

Anything else would be appreciated

Thanks Guys now let er rip...

 

what is so bad about the drive train. it might be much easier to rebuild the motor than swap frames. Oh yea and post pictures

 

where in canada are you?
im in burlington would be happy to come out and lend a hand/give advice on what direction to take if your close enough.

if it were my truck i would

-strengthen the frame.
-8.8 or 9 rear
-custom front suspention grafted from a crown vic
-4 cam 4.6 03-04 cobra engine and 6 gear

 

First, WELCOME to the site.......... there are some very knowledgeable misfits here!

Post your location in the user CP code, it makes it easier for people to give you advice (or drink your beer).

I think you are getting a little ahead of yourself (I should know, I’m president of that club), it takes a lot of time and money to do frame up rebuilds and you can’t use the truck in the meantime. I think that most of the people on here would recommend that if it is possible, get the old girl running first, then start with the modifications a little at a time.

As far as I know there are NO frame transplants that are easy or only a couple that are even possible. The ranger has been done and some S10 trucks, all require extensive modifications, with varying results, front tread / track wheel base etc.

Please read all the “Read first” post at the start, especially the suspension swaps (8 or 10 kinds), should take about a month.

The crown vic transplant is to wide.

see this post; https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-1959-s-b.html

Modifying the original frame with IFS (and IRS) or whatever will get you as radical as you want to be.

 

It's incredibly rare for one of these trucks to need all of the running gear replaced. Most of us do it because of a desire for modern convenience, like automatic transmission, since that was a rare option back then. And 59's are new enough that the drivetrain is not ancient, comparatively speaking. So perhaps you could share exactly what is wrong with the truck so we can advise you better.

For lowering the truck, there's a ton of options, from removing a couple leaves from the spring packs to full on custom suspensions. It all depends on how deep your pocketbook is, and your level of mechanical competence. And let's not go down the frame swap road. It's not a practical option for 99.9% of us. There's way too many easier ways to accomplish the same end result.

Oh, yeah, welcome to the forum!

 

Thanks Guys

A couple answers for the points raised. The truck has sat in a field since the late 70's. so brakes, engine, all moving parts rusted or weathered. I have attachment to the truck but not necessarily the frame. My thought was if I could drop the body on a newer frame I would solve going through the truck and replacing bushings, hardware, brakes, brake lines, fuel lines, fuel tank, engine (don't know if it would run). I appreciate the help guys. keep them coming. I agree I want to make it a driver first. Then update/upgrade as I go. The truck is not a basket case but...to be road worthy would take a lot in my estimation. I will post pics later as the truck is not at my residence.

Keep the posts coming please.

 

well from someone who has done just the beginnings of a frame swap that will not nessarily make stuff easier. I am putting my 59 body on a 61 frame with 63 4x4 axles. the only reason i did this was for 4x4. i had to move all the body mounts and will likely have to custom shim everything to get it aligned right. As far as everything being a loss because of sitting that is not neccarily true. I have a 64 f250 that had been sitting since the early 80's and i drug it home and got it running for about a 500-700 in parts and i had to pull the heads twice because the valves kept sticking. I had to do nothing to the brakes other than check them out or the axles. So you might be surprised at how easy it to get to run. Does the motor turn over by hand or is it stuck?

 

Hi and welcome 59F100Canada, be sure to post your intro in the local Man/Sask chapter: Manitoba / Saskatchewan Chapter - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Congrats on your 59, it`s a neat ride with potential for modification to your taste.